Spring Break Without Breaking the Bank

Spring Break Without Breaking the Bank

Spring break is an exciting time around Arcadia: Midterms are over, you’ll finally have some time to relax, and if you’re a freshman, you most likely will be going on Preview. Although I didn’t get to go on Preview because I participated in Spring FYSAE, we upperclassmen sometimes get an ache in our chests around spring break.

You may want to travel and experience the excitement you did as bright-eyed freshmen, but as we are all too aware, both college and traveling are big expenses. Luckily for you, I’ve got some advice on how to have an adventure without breaking the bank!

Just because you’re craving adventure doesn’t mean you need to go to a faraway place to get it.

- Kathryn Jones

1. The more, the cheaper.

An easy way to keep individual costs down is to not go solo. When thinking about travel fees and housing options, remember that the more people you have with you to split expenses, the less costly the trip will be.

2. Seek gems in nearby places.

Just because you’re craving adventure doesn’t mean you need to go to a faraway place to get it. Exploring options closer to your home or Arcadia can lead you somewhere new, without spending a lot of money on travel. If you find somewhere close enough, driving will cost much less than a flight; and if you want to go somewhere a bit further, there are other options than flying. For instance, I decided to take a train trip up to Montreal for spring break, which costs around $120 per person for a roundtrip. A flight would have cost at least twice as much. Always look at all of your options, and book early to get better prices.

At the top of Mont Royal in Montreal! (Also pictured in header.)

3. Browse affordable housing options.

Hotels can be extremely expensive, especially if you’re looking to explore a big city during break. Some cheaper options at your disposal are Airbnbs and hostels. Airbnb has some very affordable options, especially if you decide to travel with more than one person. If you do decide to travel alone, though, their website and app let you search for single rooms for rent, which is cheaper than booking a whole apartment. Although I’ve never used a hostel, I know that they were a popular choice for my friends who traveled a lot while in London. Most major cities have them, and they are much cheaper than staying at a hotel. And, I can’t say it enough, book sooner rather than later if you’re trying to save money.

4. Cheapest idea of all?

While planning for my spring getaway, I tried a cheaper option than any of the ones I previously mentioned: camping! If you’re a fan of the outdoors, and are on a really tight budget, this could be both a fun and inexpensive choice. Consider roadtripping a little farther south, where the weather is a bit more conducive. Reserving a campsite in one of America’s beautiful state or national parks will only cost you around $10-$15 a night. Sharing food and gas with a bunch of friends makes it as cheap as it can get. If you’re interested in something like this, I’d recommend checking out Congaree National Park in South Carolina and Anastasia State Park in Florida.